Bottom rail for venetian blinds



22 19 H. s. ROSENBAUM 2,520109 BOTTOM RAIL FR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed May 5, 1949 INVEN TOR. Harry 5. Rosenbaum Patentecl Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES A'[E NT F F ICE 2,520109 BITOM BAIEFGR VENE T'IANIB'LINDS Harry S. E0senbaum Ea'lti more, Md.

Application May 3, 1949;Sevial-Na 91,043

4 ClaimS. (GI. 160-478) T]EliSg application;relates; to a bettom rail= for Venetian blinds. More particularly itrelates tq bo-ttom rails, for=lfenetlan.blinds such as; are de. seribed i myy eopencling application Serial N0; 22,622-fi1ed; April 19 1948-. Insaid applieation I describe and -claim fixtu res fov Venetian blinds whereby head rails, bntt0m;rails, slats and tilter rollers for Venetian blinds may be manufae-l tured und cli&tz1ibuted 5111 lang lengths to local retailers who can readily cut these parts to any desi' red length; and =thereafter assemble them without speclal tools into a finished Venetian blind. The bottom rail which is here descrlbed ancl claimed is particularly suited for such blinds in that not only can it be manufactured in long lengths and cut to the desired. lengtn for a particular installation, but lt possesses several additional features. It is very rigid so that it will not sag even when used in a blind of extreme wiclth. lt is attractive in appearance and presents no recess in which dirt and dust can accumulette.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a present preferred embodiment of my invention in which:

Figure 1 iS an isometric view of my bottom rail;

Figure 2 .is a section along the lines IIII of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section along the lines III-III 0f Fiure 1 and Flgure 4 is a fragmentary section a1ong the lines IVIV of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is an isometric vlew of my bottom rail Which comprises a U-shaped channel 5 a second U-shaped channel 6 within the first channel 5 and a top l. The rail also has rope 01" cord holders 8 and tape clips 9, all o1": which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figure 2 shows the construction and assemby of the channels 5 and 5 and the top l. The channel '5 is U-shaped ancl the legs of the U each have laterally extending flanges I0. 'Ihe channel 6 is also U-shaped and fits within the channel 5. The legs H of the channel 6 are slightly longer than the channel 5 is deep and carry flanges I2 which extencl laterally and parallel to the fianges l of the channel 5 for approximately the same distance. The top l extends the full Width of the rail across the flanges Hi and 2 and its outer edges I3 are folded around and under the flanges H and l2 to form a four-ply seam along both edges of the rail (See Figure 4).

Figures 3 and 4 Show the means whereby the usual s1at tapes of a Venetian blind can be fastened to my bottom rail anal alsothe means wlaerebyoperatingcorcls can be secured to the rail. I provicle tape clips 9 which surround a nd gez;erally confo rm to the contours of the ehannel Bach end of eaeh clip-is offset inwardly as at 4 (EigureS-) so thatthe clipsare spaced from ne ehannels for the greater portion" of their engths The slat tapes pass around the bottom mithin the space between the rail an d the clip; Qne;.edge 15 of: each elip, isv parallel to 0ne f;jhhrSidS Jf the channel The other;edge of the clip carries two spaced hooks E6 Whioh fit around the foldecl outer edges i3 of the top l (Figure l). After the slat tapes have been passed around the rail, the hooks iof the clips are placed around one edge of the rail and the edge of the Clip is snapped 011 to the rail. The distance between the heol:s E8 and the edge I5 of each Clip is determined so that the Clip is sprung on the rail into the position shswn in the drawings and. thereby held in place.

The rope o1 cord holders 8 are in the form of U-shaped memle-ers, the base l! of which has an opening l8 through which a cord can be passed and thereafter knotted so that it can not be withdrawn. The holder Es fitted into openings cut in the top and guter channel of the rail, the 'U-shape beim: inverted When the holders a.re in position in the bottom rail. The legs of the holder have flanges 39 which extend laterally beneath and generally parallel to the channel 5 and thus prevent withdrawal of the holdem 3 from the rail.

From the foregoing description lt will be apparent that I have lnvented a bottom rail which can readily be formed on a muss procluction basis by stamping and bending lengths of sheet metal. It can be cut to any lengt'n desired and punched for rope or cord holders by simple machinery. Nevertheless it is quite rigid and presents a completely closed outer surface which may readily be cleaned.

While I have described a present preferred embodiment 05 my invention, it is to be umlerst0od that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope 01 the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A bottom rail for aNenetian blind comprising a U-shaped channel having laterally extending flanges at the end of each leg of the U, a second U-shaped channel fitting withln the first channel and l1aving lateral flangeg extencling parallel to and substantially coextensive with the flanges cf the first channel, and a top extending across the fianges of the channels and having its 3 edges folcled around the ends of the flanges of tl1e channels.

2. A bottorn rail for a. Venetian blind c0mprising a U-shaped channel having laterally extending flanges at he end cf each leg of the U, a second U-shaped channel fitting within the first channel and having lateral flanges extending parallel to anal substantially coextensive with the flanges of the first channel, a top extending across the fianges of the channels and having its edges folded around the ends of the fianges of the channels, aligned opem'ngs in the top and the outer channel and a U-shaped member fitting within said openings, said member having an opening in its base through which a cord may be passed and flanges extending laterally from the legs, said flanges contacting the unter surface of the outer channel.

3. A bottom rail for a Venetian blind comprising a U-shaped channel having laterally extending flangeg ab the end cf each leg 0f the U, a second U-shaped channel fitting within the first channel anal having lateral flanges extending parallel to and substantially coextensive with the fianges 01 the first channel, a top extending across 4 that portion of the top which is folded around said fianges, the distance between said hooks and the opposite edge of the clips being such that the clip can be sprung on 150 said outer channel.

4. A bottom rail for a Venetian blind comprising a. U-shapecl channel having laterally extendlng flanges ad: the end of each leg of the U a second U-shaped channel fitting Within the first channel and having lateral fianges extending parallel 1:0 and substantially coextensive with the fianges of the first channel, a top extending across the flanges of l3he channelg and having its edges folded. around the ends of the fianges of the channels, alignecl openings in the top and the outer channel, a. U-shaped member fitting Within said openings, said member having an opening in its base through which a cord may be passed and fianges extending laterally from the legs, said flanges contacting the unter surface of the outer channel, and a tape clip surrounding the first channel, said clip having one edge extending parallel to 0ne outer side of said channel, and hooks on the opposite edge of said clip adapted to fit around that portion of the top which is folded around sa-id flanges, the distance between said hooks and the opposite edge of the clips being such that the clip can be sprung on 150 said outer channel.

HARRY S. ROSENBAUM.

N0 references cited. 

